ALL ABOUT HUNTER VALLEY, AUSTRALIA
Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine-growing region. It has a lot to explore – charming vineyards, peaceful landscapes, and gourmet thrills. Hunter Valley is renowned worldwide as a leading gourmet getaway because of its excellent varieties of Semillon and Shiraz. It is considered to be the birthplace of Australian wine, and it is very well known around the world for its award-winning wines, produced since the 1800s.
Hunter Valley (Cessnock) is only a two-hour drive (about 160 km) from the north of Sydney. It is locally known as “Hunter” and is divided into two parts – Lower Hunter and Upper Hunter. The majority of the wineries are present in the Lower Hunter. The busiest and most visited areas of the Lower Hunter are Cessnock, Rothbury, Wollombi Valley, Pokolbin, and Lovedale. The region is named after the main river that flows through the region, called the Hunter River. Hunter Valley region also produces cheeses, olive oils, and olives along with wine.
It may not come as a surprise that people visit Hunter mainly to spend their time tasting the local produce and the award-winning food and wine. Hunter is the perfect destination for a couple’s vacations, boys’ trips, mother-daughter getaways, and big group hangouts. They can book a Hunter Valley accommodation for a few days and enjoy everything that the Hunter Valley has to offer.
SOME AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN HUNTER VALLEY:
Here are a few amazing things one can do when they visit Hunter:
- Visit the Hunter region’s best wineries: This is a great way to meet the winemakers, learn about the valley’s wine-making history, and get involved in the fine art of wine appreciation. These tours can be entertaining and informative. A lot of wineries operate an open cellar door policy. This allows people to conveniently just turn up and taste. There may be a small tasting fee, in general, but that will be refunded if you make a purchase.
- Watch the sunrise from the sky: Though people spend most of the time in Hunter wine-tasting, one can also view these vineyards from 2000 feet in the air on a scenic joyride. Departing early in the morning to watch the sunrise from a hot air balloon is a truly magical way to explore the valley. The hot air balloon ride covers the picturesque wine regions of Rothbury, Broke, Lovedale, and Pokolbin.
- Ride an electric bike around Hunter: What is better than tasting wine in Hunter? Tasting wine with the wind in your hair! It is amazing how easy it is to whiz around Hunter on an e-bike. You can choose to pedal or not, making it easier for you to ride up a hill. It is a great fitness experience, and one can tour at their own pace.
- Visit the Hunter Valley Gardens: The Hunter Valley Gardens are a must-visit when you’re in the Hunter Valley. It is open every day except Christmas day since it started in 2003. The garden is 14 hectares of land and has 10 themed gardens, a shopping village, rides, dining, Hunter Valley accommodation, and a lot more.
5. Themed gardens: There are ten themed gardens in the Hunter Valley Gardens, and each of them is influenced by different parts of the world. The themed gardens are Border Garden, Chinese Garden, Formal Garden, Indian Garden, Italian Grotto, Lakes Walk, Oriental Garden, Rose Garden, Storybook Garden, and Sunken Garden
